Impossible Romance - Chapter 4

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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4.

I furrowed my brow, entertaining an impossible fantasy.
My entire family had worked under Kwon Seok-ha and his household for as long as I could remember, and after reaching adulthood, I had naturally drifted into employment at Seonjin, just as expected.
Yet here I was, having fled Seonjin and slipped into Daegwang—and Kwon Seok-ha already knew not only that I’d left, but the specific work I’d been doing. I’d even witnessed firsthand that he managed every sordid detail of that bastard Kim Sung-woo’s private life.
And despite handling such matters, he carried on with his duties as though nothing troubled him.
Standing before Kwon Seok-ha as though pride were my only possession, when I was nothing.
How pathetic he must think me.

“I’m helping you out of pity. Don’t you get it?”

The memory of Kwon Seok-ha’s contemptuous gaze looking down at me made my mouth go dry.
The courage that had made me boldly toss down fifty thousand won evaporated in the face of a reality I’d only just begun to comprehend.
As I passed through the expansive First Floor Lobby and approached the hall where the book launch was being held, the Secretary Director from Daegwang was waiting for me.
His expression was rigid, as though he carried words he’d rather not speak. From his face alone, I understood that he already knew what had transpired upstairs.
When exactly had Kwon Seok-ha made his move? I knew he was behind all of this. But pretending ignorance, I reported on the work I’d been handling until moments before.
“Director, hello. Regarding the executive director…”
“Kim Dae-hoon will be assisting the executive director. We’ve been notified that he’s being brought in now, so you needn’t concern yourself any further, Ahn Joon-hee.”
“I understand.”
His tone struck me as both high-handed and deliberately distancing. He’d never been an approachable superior, but now it was clear he no longer considered me part of his team.
“You’re dismissed for the day.”
“Are you removing me from my duties?”
The book launch was only just beginning, so I needed to clarify what the Secretary Director intended.
“You were hired with the understanding that caring for the executive director was your primary responsibility. Since you’ve failed to do that today, I’m afraid we won’t be extending your contract.”
“I see.”
Though I felt wronged, I accepted it quietly. As a contract employee, if they cited grounds for dismissal, I had no recourse.
The thought flashed through my mind—was Kwon Seok-ha behind all of this? Or perhaps, even if he wasn’t, the fact that they were seizing on my failure to properly attend to Kim Sung-woo today suggested it might be Jung Myung-hee’s doing. I’d noticed her disdain for me growing more obvious lately.
“You’ve worked hard today. We’ll process your final payment properly.”
The Secretary Director dismissed me with a perfunctory farewell.
“Ahn Joon-hee.”
That’s when it happened. A heavy voice cut through the lobby. I didn’t need to look to know who it was.
“Good evening, Executive Director.”
The Secretary Director recognized him and bowed respectfully.
With a slight nod to the Secretary Director, the man spoke again.
“The congressman is waiting inside.”
“Yes, of course. Ahn Joon-hee, wait here.”
Kwon Seok-ha, having exchanged words with the Secretary Director, turned to me before entering the hall alone.
For a brief moment, I considered fleeing right then. But just as this encounter was no coincidence, running away wouldn’t end anything. It would be wiser to face Kwon Seok-ha directly, make my position clear, and part ways.
Having steeled my resolve, Kwon Seok-ha emerged from the hall not long after—his time inside had been remarkably brief, barely more than a greeting with former congressman Kim Hyun-sung.
He stood before Jun-hee and looked down at her.
“Follow me.”
Jun-hee silently followed in his footsteps.

***

As they exited the Hotel, a vehicle was already waiting as if he had given the order beforehand. The Driver emerged from the large mid-size sedan with the engine running and opened the rear door.
Kwon Seok-ha stood several paces away, observing Jun-hee instead of boarding. When she remained motionless despite his silent command to get in, he spoke.
“What, are you planning to run away?”
“Am I supposed to go with you, sir?”
Jun-hee asked because she had assumed she would be stationed nearby as before.
“Did I tell you to wait and watch me get in the car? Get in.”
He positioned himself in front of the door the Driver had opened, as if he wouldn’t listen to anything else.
Jun-hee looked at Kwon Seok-ha and quietly boarded the vehicle. She couldn’t refuse to get in, and she thought this was the perfect opportunity to state her intentions clearly as she had resolved to do earlier.
Once she was inside, Kwon Seok-ha entered the car, and the Driver politely closed the door before moving to the driver’s seat.
“Where shall I take you?”
“Sangwon-dong.”
Kwon Seok-ha gave a brief instruction in response to the Driver’s question. The steering wheel turned slowly, and the smooth-riding sedan began to accelerate.
“Where is Sangwon-dong?”
“Hand over your phone.”
He simply ignored her question and extended his hand.
His large, broad hand gestured toward Jun-hee.
Jun-hee glanced at the phone she was holding and spoke again.
“What are you trying to do?”
No matter how much she owed Kwon Seok-ha, it didn’t make sense for him to intrude on her personal privacy.
“If you don’t want to give me your phone, call me.”
His face was full of casual confidence and expectation. Yet Jun-hee felt her mind tense as if she might break into a cold sweat. She would need his phone number to call him, but she had deleted it long ago.
He, who had been staring directly into her eyes, let out a soft laugh.
“I was just asking on the off chance. So, you deleted the number?”
“Yes….”
For some reason, embarrassment made it uncomfortable to look at him.
“You always move slowly, yet you’re quick with actions like that.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Do you hate me that much? Did you think you’d squeezed out all the usefulness and there was nothing left to exploit?”
“….”
Jun-hee said nothing.
In truth, even though she had deleted his contact, she still remembered Kwon Seok-ha’s phone number. She hadn’t intentionally memorized it, yet his number was etched in her mind as if branded there.
But she didn’t want to admit that she knew it. His number could have changed in the meantime, after all.
“Give it here.”
He extended his hand again, but Jun-hee still hesitated.
Kwon Seok-ha swiftly took her phone, entered his number, and handed it back to her. He added a single remark.
“Save it. You’ll need it for work.”
“Yes.”
Jun-hee answered briefly and saved his name to the contact.
Seok-ha, watching from beside her as she saved it under “Kwon Seok-ha, Executive Director,” averted his gaze.
“This feels strange.”
He muttered something incomprehensible.
Though I couldn’t fathom what he meant, I didn’t dare ask. Suddenly, the car felt suffocatingly small. His cologne—a scent tinged with longing—mingled with heavy notes of fragrance, brushing against the tip of my nose.
“Have you been well all this time?”
Perhaps he felt it too. Now came a question befitting two people meeting after a long absence.
“…Yes.”
Jun-hee pondered his question before answering slowly.
“Good for you. I haven’t been.”
“I…thought you would be doing well.”
“And does it make you happy that I haven’t?”
“It couldn’t.”
Kwon Seok-ha stared at Jun-hee as she answered calmly.
Even after all this time, her cheeks remained pale, her eyes glistening as though tears might spill at any moment, her shoulders fragile, and her body—damn it, he wanted to hold her so badly.
“Insane.”
Kwon Seok-ha cursed under his breath.
This woman who had left him claiming she despised him—yet merely being in the same space with her made his lower body throb with an ache so intense he had no choice but to curse at himself.
Jun-hee stared at him for a moment, then lowered her head.
“I’m sorry. I really thought you’d be doing well. I’m not lying.”
She misunderstood his curse as directed at her and offered her own interpretation and excuse.
“I know. Lies don’t suit Ahn Joon-hee.”
At his heavy voice, Jun-hee lifted her head again.
“Even when you asked me to leave, you meant it. You always did.”
Thorned words flowed from Kwon Seok-ha’s lips.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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